Note: all of these books (except where
marked *) are in our own private collection. Some are, unfortunately, long
out of print, and may be hard to obtain, especially outside the UK. If you
experience difficulty getting hold of copies of books in our collection, we
will gladly look up any specific information for you and e-mail the results.
Contact webmaster.
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keeping it updated.
Broady, June. 1989. Deal
in Old Photographs. Allan Sutton. 0 86299 675 9
A collection of old photographs of Deal, mainly drawn from the Will
Honey Collection in Deal's Maritime and Local History Museum, with
brief descriptions by June Broady.
Another collection of photographs of old Deal and Walmer, with
descriptions and maps of the areas where the pictures were taken.
Lane, Andrew. 2000. Royal Marines Deal - a
Pictorial History. Halsgrove. 1 84114 081 3
"The story of the Royal Marines at Deal is told in this unique
book by over 200 photographs from the extensive library at the Royal
Marines Museum." A must for anyone interested in the Royal
Marines.
Nunns, Gertrude. 1999.
Then & Now. Deal Town Council
A "Deal 300" publication celebrating Deal's Tercentenary.
Contains old pictures of Deal, mainly from the firs couple of decades
of the 20th century, opposite modern photographs of the same scene
taken by members of the Deal & District Camera Club.
In 1699 Deal finally obtained its own charter giving it the status
of a Borough and Market Town, and separating it from the dominance of
its neighbour, Sandwich.
I have 2 spare copies of this booklet which I would gladly sell to
anyone who is interested.
"An affectionate look at the cinemas of
Dover, Deal and Folkestone" from the beginnings of moving
pictures through two world wars, with reminiscences from those who
fondly remember the golden days of cinema.
Humphreys, Roy. 1993. Dover at War,
1939-45. Allan Sutton. 0 7509 0208 6
Written in the form of a journal. this book charts the course of
the war in Dover, illustrated with official notices and personal
memories of the people who lived through it.
A brief illustrated history of the Western Heights fortifications.
Puckle, Rev. John. 1856.
The Church and Fortress of Dover Castle.
John Henry and James Parker *
The church of St Mary in Castro had been derelict for several
hundred years before the Kent Archaeological Society took an interest
in it in 1860. The Military authorities gave them access to the
site, and and Canon Puckle, Vicar of St Mary the Virgin, Dover, made a
study of the building and the adjacent Roman Pharos, during the
restoration. This book describes what he discovered.
Scott, Rivers. 1957. The Gateway of
England. Dover Harbour Board.
"A short survey of the activities of the Port of Dover,
past and present, and of the Dover Harbour Board, the modern Port
Authority, which in 1956 celebrated its 350th anniversary".
You may have difficulty obtaining copies of this publication, which
was apparently produced for employees and ex-employees of the Board.
There was a second edition, with some different pictures, produced
at some later date.
Searle, Muriel V. 1988. Down the Line to
Dover. Bloomsbury Books. 1 870630 41 6
Not strictly a book about Dover - this book documents the history
of the "Land 'em, Smash 'em and Over" (London,
Chatham and Dover) Railway in a lively, readable text, illustrated
with maps and photographs.
Smith, Mark P. 1988. Dover
in Old Photographs. Alan Sutton. 0 86299 512 4
A compilation of over 250 photographs culled from the Dover Museum
collection, illustrating the history of the town from the early days
of photography to 1936.
Recollections of a childhood in old Dover, written by an old Dover
resident and illustrated by Thomas George Vine.
Welby, Douglas E. 1991. The History of
Archcliffe Fort Dover, Kent. Polar Bear Press. 0 906124 11 5
"This short account traces the history of one of the
lesser known forts and is intended to enlighten the reader about the
social and domestic happenings of this small but important garrison".
(copies may be available from
other on-line booksellers)
Welby, Douglas 1976.The Tidy
Ruin - History of the Parish Church of St. James the Apostle Dover.
Dover Archaeological Group.*
"When, in 1971, Dover Archaeological Group heard the Dover
Council's decision to start work on St James' Churchyard, and to
prepare to clear the site in readiness for a proposed Swimming Pool
and Sports Complex, they felt it would be a good time to record and to
keep the area under their observation."
"The book tries to enlighten the reader about social and
domestic happenings of individuals in a parish which has always
appeared as the poor relative to other Dover churches."
A later paperback by the same author, "Dover's Tidy Ruin", is
available from
amazon.co.uk.
Hasenson, Alec 1980. The History of Dover
Harbour. Aurum Special Editions. 0 906053 17 X *
A very interesting and informative book about the harbour and the
many ships that have sailed the short sea route to France.
If anybody has a copy of this book that they no longer require, I
would be delighted to give it a home!
Bavington Jones, John 1907. Dover, A
Perambulation of the Town, Port and Fortress. Dover Express
Bavington Jones was the Editor of the Dover Express and wrote this
historical description of Dover in the form of a perambulation round the town,
street by street. A very valuable source of information for family
historians looking for descriptions of Dover at the turn of the century.
A second book: Annals of Dover, published in 1916, deals with the documentary history of the town.
Bavington Jones, John 1908. When Was It? The
Dover Book of Dates, with occasional notes. Dover Express
Published in paperback, this book is a bit of a rarity! It contains
entries for every day of the year, with descriptions of events that took place
on that day in years gone by, in and around Dover.
I have only seen this on sale once and I grabbed it quick!
Other books by John Bavington Jones available from
www.amazon.co.uk:
Ramsgate and Broadstairs by Camera and Pen* (reprint)
Foster was Special Correspondent for the Daily Herald in Dover from
May 1940. This book, first published in September 1941, is a first-hand
account of life in Dover during the early part of the 2nd World War.
Bavington Jones, O.G., 1919. Dover and the European
War, 1914-18. Dover Express
An interesting account of Dover during WWI, originally published in the
Dover Express newspaper between December 1918 and February 1919. A centre plan
shows the location of bombs and shells which struck Dover during the war.
The story of the Baptist Church in Biggin Street and Maison Dieu Road,
Dover, and its associated Chapels.
Holyoak, Walter, 1914.
Dover Baptists. A Brief History. Dover Express.*
Walter Holyoak was the "Pastor of the Church worshipping at Salem Chapel,
Dover," when he wrote this little book, issued in connection with the 75th
anniversary of that church.
Not currently available at any of the online booksellers I have checked.
Adams, A.F. & Lilley, M., 2000. Dover - Collected
Memories of a Century. Triangle Publications. 0 9539478 0 7
A collection of articles and reminiscences from the Dover Society
Newsletter from 1988 to 1999. Sections cover the first half of the
century, the 1st and 2nd World Wars, and the second half of the century,
illustrated with photographs and maps of the town.
Joe Harman lived his entire life in the house in Dover in which he was
born. He was born shortly after the first bomb dropped on Dover in
December 1914 and his reserved occupation kept him in the town through the 2nd
World War. His memories of the town through 90 years make for a
fascinating read. Illustrated with many photographs.
"This book attempts to describe the problem of poverty in Dover over the
centuries and how the authorities, both religious and secular, as well as
certain individuals responded to it." Illustrated with many photographs
and drawings.
Leach, Derek, 2002. Greetings, Dover! from Jack
Hewitt. Riverdale Publications. 0 9536166 3 0
Another well-known local character, Jack Hewitt lived through two world
wars in Dover. His fascinating life story includes many years in the
scout movement and the St John Ambulance, in both of which he held high office
locally. He also served for 29 years in the Kent Ambulance Service.
Another string to Jack's bow was as a courier for Raymond Cook Tours.
His cheery "Greetings!" will be sadly missed around the town.
Kay, Lillian, 1999. The Life and Times of a
Dovorian. Riverdale Publications. 0 9536166 0 6
Born in the Pier District just one month before the outbreak of WW1,
Lillian spent most of her life in the town. From 1946 until her
retirement in 1977, she was on the staff of the Dover Grammar School for
Girls, first as a Maths teacher, then as Deputy Head and finally as
Headmistress. This is another fascinating book of memories of Dover
covering 85 years.
Derek Leach OBE is an "adopted" Dovorian, having been born in Chatham and
moved to Dover in 1974. He is Vice Chairman of the Dover Society.
He has written and edited a number of books on local history and also
publishes under the name of Riverdale Publications. Born in Dover, Terry
Sutton MBE has been a journalist in the town for more than half a century (45
years on the staff of the Dover Express, now freelance) and is Chairman
of the Dover Society.
Illustrated with many photographs.
Firth, J.B., 1919. Dover and the Great War.
A. Leney & Co.
"This Book is published by Messrs. A. LENEY & Co. Ltd., of Dover, as a
memento of the stirring times through which the Town passed during the period
of the Great War.
"They felt there were many whose duty called them to form part of the
Garrison and Naval Forces who would appreciate a record of some of the events
which happened and in which they took an active part."
Messrs. A Leney & Co., Ltd., were the owners of the
Phoenix Brewery in Castle Street.
Coxon, S.W., 1919.
Dover During the Dark Days, by a "Dug-Out". Bodley
Head*
A "Dug-Out" was Lieut.-Commander Stanley W. Coxon, R.N.V.R., and this book
contains some of his recollections of being stationed at the Admiralty Pier in
Dover during the Great War, with contributions from other officers of the
Dover Patrol.
Atherton, G.M., 2003. Soldiers of the Castle: Dover
Castle Garrisoned. Triangle Publications. 0-9539478-3-1*
This book gives details and notes about the troops that have been stationed
in Dover Castle from the Castle Guard of 1166 to the 1st Bn, The Queen's Own
Cameron Highlanders in 1958 - the last battalion to be quartered in the
Castle. An invaluable reference for anyone interested in military
history.
Armstrong, Alan. 1995. The
Economy of Kent 1640-1914. Boydell Press.*
One of a series of books produced for Kent County Council as part
of the Kent History Project. Much of the information for our Mining
in Kent page was taken from this book (pp 122-123).
Crouch, Marcus & Bergess, Wyn. 1974. Victorian
and Edwardian Kent From Old Photographs. Batsford.
0 7134 2886 4
"... tells the story of this fascinating and, sometimes,
tempestuous stretch of water."
Glover, Judith. 1976. The Place Names of
Kent. Meresborough Books. 0905 270 614
A dictionary of almost 3000 Kentish place names and their probable
derivations.
Knatchbull-Hugessen, Sir Hughe. 1960. Kentish
Family. Methuen.
The family history of one of Kent's most famous families. Contains
"... portraits of selected members of the Knatchbull family,
heads of which have, with few exceptions, represented Kent, or after
1832 a Kentish Constituency in the House of Commons since the time of
James I." with "16 halftone plates and 3 folding
family trees".
A "... detailed study of shipwrecks around the Goodwin Sands
and includes a comprehensive coverage of incidents from the early 16th
century to the present day." Lists over 1000 vessels.
Other books on Goodwin Sands shipwrecks by Richard Larn available from
www.amazon.co.uk:
Major, Alan. 1981. A New Dictionary of the
Kent Dialect. Meresborough. 0 905270 274
Ever wondered about the origin and meaning of some of the words in
those old documents? This "augmented and updated edition"
of the Paris and Shaw dictionary of 1888 will help you find the
answer.
One of a series of Domesday Book volumes for each county, giving
the original Norman text with English translation and notes.
Reay, Barry. 1990. The
Last Rising of the Agricultural Labourers - Rural Life and Notes in 19th
Century England. OUP Clarendon Press. *
An account of the events leading up to the Battle of Bossenden Wood
(nr Hernehill) - the last battle to take place on English soil.
1961. Battle
in Bosenden Wood. Oxford Press.
Sadly no longer in print, this is another account of
the battle. Both this and the previous book give details
of those involved in the events and what happened to them in the
aftermath.
Ritchie, A. 1919. The
Kent Coalfield - its evolution and development. The Iron and
Coal Trades Review. *
An excellent resource for anyone researching the early development
of the Kent coalfield. This book gives details of the companies
and individuals involved in the exploration and exploitation of the
coalfield., as well as the borings and pit workings from the earliest
speculation in the 1840s.
This is difficult to find outside libraries, but I have seen it
available on the internet, although somewhat expensive.
(copies may be available from
other on-line booksellers)
Sherren, Richard Tilden. 1990. The
Industrial Eden. Channel Publications. 0951565400
Written by a grandson of one of the early pioneers of coal at
Tilmanstone, this book mainly concentrates on that colliery, but also
gives information on the earlier pit at Shakespeare Cliff.
Tubbs, T.B. 1966. Kent Pubs.
Batsford.
If you are looking for information on pubs in Kent, this might just
provide a clue, but don't plan any trips without referring to more
up-to-date sources!
A selection of recommended pubs in Kent, with details of their
location, brewery allegiance, and telephone number. Complete with
descriptions of the locality, the facilities offered, and even the
name of mine host.
Unfortunately, since this book was published many of these fine
hostelries have disappeared. For example, in Deal only 2 of the three
listed pubs remain (The Pelican is now a private residence) and in
Dover, not only have some of the pubs gone, but the streets and lanes
where they stood no longer exist.
Lambarde, William. 1576. A Perambulation of
Kent: conteining the Description, Hystorie, and Customes of That Shire.
This well-known work contains a valuable description of life in Kent
as seen through the eyes of a London gentleman in the 16th century.
It was re-printed in 1820 with the addition of a brief life-history
of the author.
A 1970 reprint is available from
www.amazon.co.uk. Copies of the first edition are available,
but are extremely expensive (c.£3000). Copies of the 1826 edition
can be had for a few hundred pounds.
Clunn, Harold P. The Face of the Home
Counties. Spring Books.
A look at the home counties (Kent, Surrey, Middlesex, Essex,
Hertfordshire) and the "shires" (Buckinghamshire, Berkshire,
Oxfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hampshire), plus Sussex and parts of
Suffolk, "portrayed in a series of eighteen week-end drives
from London", illustrated with 103 black-and-white
photographs. Each journey is described in detail, with a commentary on
the various sights and buildings of historic interest.
This book was published in the more romantic era of Dennis
single-decker buses, when you occasionally had to step out of the road
to avoid a passing Morris, and you could still walk up to the stones
at Stonehenge!
Burn, John 1976. The
History of Parish Registers in England. E.P.Publishing.
0 7158 1202 5
A reprint of the second edition (1862) of a text originally
published in 1829.
Duncan, David E. The
Calendar. Fourth Estate.
1 85702 721 3
The 5000-Year Struggle to Align the Clock and
the Heavens - and What Happened to the Missing Ten Days.
This is a fascinating account of how the
modern-day calendar has evolved, including the changes from the Julian
to the Gregorian throughout most of the world.
Griffin, A.R. 1982. The
Collier. Shire Album 82. 0 85263 590 7
Although mainly concerned with mining in the Yorkshire/Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire
coalfields, Griffin provides "... an illustrated history of coal
mining looked at from the standpoint of the people who worked in the
industry and their families who were dependent on it." This
little booklet gives a view of mining from the earliest times,
illustrated with a number of line drawings and early photographs.
Various. 1868 - present. Archaeologia
Cantiana. Kent Archaeological Society
The Kent Archaeological Society has published its annual journal
since its inception in 1868. Each volume contains a series of
articles relating to Kent history. Various volumes are available
from
www.amazon.co.uk:
Humphery-Smith, Cecil. The
Phillimore Atlas and Index of Parish Registers. Phillimore.
0 85033 398 9
The essential book for family history
researchers in England and Wales. Contains county maps showing
pre-1832 parochial boundaries, colour-coded probate jurisdictions,
positions of churches and chapels and starting dates of surviving
registers. In addition, contemporary maps showing roads and
other local features help to deduce likely movements of people across
parish boundaries.
The index gives references to where copies of each parish's records
are held, including various marriage indexes. (New edition now
available from
www.amazon.co.uk)
*
*
